Which food services passed or failed their health inspection May 12 – 18 (2024)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — The Onondaga County Health Department released its inspection reports for restaurants checked from May 12 through May 18.

Three food services failed:

• Red Chili – 2740 East Erie Boulevard, Syracuse
• Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant – 510 Oswego Street, Liverpool
• Traveling Gnome Diner – 7991 Route 31, Bridgeport

Read to see how the establishments failed inspection in detail below

Red Chili

Red Chili had 12 violations, with two being critical violations.

Improper cooling and refrigerated storage of potentially hazardous foods (Critical violation, found 2 times) – The inspector found roughly 15 pounds of fried chicken noted at 74 degrees Fahrenheit stored on a table. The manager stated the chicken was cooked an hour before. It was moved into the walk-in cooler.

The inspector found two metal containers with roughly two pounds of garlic and oil stored at room temperature at a cook line at 67 degrees Fahrenheit. The manager said the oil had been out for roughly one hour. It was moved to a prep cooler.

Poor hygiene and activities of food workers (1 violation) – Inspector found employees preparing food lacked hair restraints.

Poor sanitary design, construction, installation of equipment and utensils (2 violations) – Some lower shelving was lined with cardboard. It was not smooth or easily cleanable. Shelving in the walk-in cooler had corrosion and rust.

Improper cleaning, washing and sanitizing of equipment and utensils (3 violations) – Interior of some reach-in coolers and freezers were not clean. Exterior of most equipment, lower shelving not clean. Fan guards in the walk-in cooler were not clean.

Improper garbage and rubbish disposal (1 violation) – A large amount of trash, including a mattress, was on the ground near the dumpsters.

Inadequate insect/rodent control (1 violation) – Large number of mouse droppings noted throughout the establishment. Dead mouse found on a glue trap.

Improper construction and maintenance of physical facilities (2 violations) — Floors throughout were noted to have heavy grease and food debris. Floor in the walk-in cooler was not clean.

Traveling Gnome Diner

Traveling Gnome Diner had 14 total violations, with three being critical.

Foods not protected from contamination, temperatures not measured (Critical violation, found one time) – Raw beef products were stored above pineapple and ready to eat foods in walk-in cooler. This was corrected immediately and the cooler was rearranged.

Improper cooling and refrigerated storage of potentially hazardous foods (Critical violation, found one time) – In ice cream kiosk two-bay sink, roughly five pounds of packed ground beef and three pounds of ground sausage were found at room temperature. The operator said it was placed in the sink the day before to thaw and overlooked. It was voluntarily discarded.

Improper cooling and refrigerated storage of potentially hazardous food (Critical violation, found one time) – At the cook line, a three-bay flip top cooler was found operating at 49-52 degrees Fahrenheit. Most products in that cooler had been in for roughly two hours.

Roughly three pounds of sliced tomatoes, two pounds of chicken soup, two pounds of cooked sausage and three pounds of assorted proteins were discarded.

Food not protected in general (3 violations) – In a dry storage area, bulk produce and potatoes were stored on the floor. Bulk fresh oil receptacles were stored on the floor. Foils pans of packaging were not stored inverted. Single service containers were stored on the floor.

A container of chocolate sprinkles had a scoop handle touching product in an ice cream kiosk.

Single service containers were used as a scoop in dry bulk food storage.

Poor hygiene and activities of food workers (1 violation) – Employees coats were hung from wire shelving in the same area as clean containers and lids. A suitable alternative space for the coats was available, the inspector noted.

Poor sanitary design, construction, installation of equipment and utensils (1 violation) – A wire three-tier cart with heavy corrosion was found at the sanitation aisle.

Improper cleaning, washing and sanitizing of equipment and utensils (3 violations) – At a beverage service station, soda tumblers were stacked nested before air drying was complete.

In various places, cook line aisle, ice cream kiosk and sanitation room, wet wiping cloths not stored in sanitizer solution between uses.

At the ice cream kiosk, the hand wash sink didn’t have paper towels. Soap dispenser was empty at cook line hand wash station.

Improper garbage and rubbish disposal (1 violation) – Garbage and dumpster lids were left open.

Improper construction and maintenance of physical facilities (1 violation) – Floors were noted to be in poor repair in kitchen and storage areas. A wall was damaged with insulation gathered on the floor behind a three-bay sink. Dry storage walk-in cooler had greasy residues and unsealed wood floor surface. Several other walls were damaged.

Photos from the inspection of the Traveling Gnome Diner can be seen below:

Photos courtesy of the Onondaga County Health Department

Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant

Improper cooling and refrigerated storage of potentially hazardous foods (Critical violation, found two times) – Five containers of queso were found at 108-112 degrees Fahrenheit sitting on a table in the rear storage area of the restaurant. The queso was then put into a low cooler.

The walk-in cooler was found at 49.7-50.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Food such as green salsa, ground beef, cooked chicken, raw shrimp and raw steak were found to be above the required temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Poor sanitary design construction, installation of equipment and utensils (1 violation) – Several lower shelves of tables were covered with foil and or cardboard.

Improper cleaning, washing and sanitizing of equipment and utensils (2 violations) – The dish machine rinse water chlorine sanitizer residual was found at 0 parts per million instead of the 50 ppm required.

Improper sanitary facilities and controls (2 violations) – Cookline hand wash sink was missing a hand wash sign.

Cookline hand wash sink was obstructed with a plastic container at the time of inspection.

Improper garbage and rubbish disposal (1 violation) – Garbage dumpsters were open with birds inside the dumpsters.

Many locations passed their inspections between May 12 through18.

You can see the entire list below.